θαῦμα
thaûma
G2295 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A marvel, an object of wonder; something that evokes astonishment or amazement, often by its extraordinary or unexpected nature; in extended usage, the feeling or experience of wonder or awe provoked by such an object or event.
Semantic Range
marvel, object of wonder, miracle, prodigy, cause for astonishment, admiration, the experience or feeling of awe or amazement
Root / Etymology
From the verb θεάομαι (to look at, behold) via the related noun θαῦμα (wonder, marvel), indicating something regarded with astonishment. Cognate with θαυμάζω (to wonder, to admire).
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, θαῦμα refers primarily to an extraordinary object, event, or phenomenon that inspires awe or amazement—natural wonders, unusual occurrences, or accomplishments provoking admiration. The term is often concrete (a marvel or wonder as a tangible thing), but can be abstractly extended to the response or state of wonder or admiration. In the Hellenistic and Koine periods, including the Septuagint and New Testament, θαῦμα retains this dual sense: it may describe miraculous acts (as objects that provoke astonishment) or the perception of something as remarkable or wondrous. Standard English translations often render it as 'wonder' or 'marvel,' but these may underrepresent the concrete aspect of the Greek term (the thing itself that inspires awe, not only the emotion). The word is distinct from τέρας (prodigy, portent) and σημεῖον (sign), both of which are sometimes used for miraculous or supernatural acts but with different emphases.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
apparently from a form of θεάομαι; wonder (properly concrete; but by implication, abstract):--admiration.
Root Family
θαῦμα (thauma) — marvel, wonder, object of astonishment, awe
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2295-01 |
θαῦμα | thauma | N NOM N SG |
admiration | a marvel | a marvel | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2295-01 |
2 Corinthians 11:14 | θαῦμα | thauma | N NOM N SG |
wonder | a marvel | a marvel |
G2295-01 |
Revelation 17:6 | θαῦμα | thauma | N ACC N SG |
admiration | a marvel | marvel |